Removable conveyer slat and latch therefor



Oct. 3, 1950 c. BENINGER 2,524,135

REMOVABLE CONVEYER SLAT AND LATCH THEREFOR Filed June 5, 194a a? 29 55 51a go 3% INVENTOR. CZARENGEBFZZZNGEE zap 14.

ATTOJFNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1950 o ir REMOVABLE CONVEYER SLAT AND LATCH THEREFOR Clarence Beninger, Indianapolis, Ind. Application June 3, 1946, Serial No. 674,127

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a removable conveyor slat and latch therefor, and is particularly concerned with the provision of means whereby supporting elements of a continuous conveyor may be readily attached to, or removed from, the continuous flexible elements of such a conveyor.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is designed for association with a chain type continuous conveyor, and that embodiment has been illustrated and will be described; but it will be obvious that the invention is adaptable to conveyors having other types of continuous flexible elements.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby transverse supporting elements may be readily attached to, and removed from, continuous flexible elements of a conveyor; but more properly stated, an objectof the inventicn is to provide an improved latch. F'urther objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is an isometric view'of a fragment of a supporting element associated with a fragment of a continuous chain, the view being taken from the bottom of the conveyor, and parts being broken away for clarity of illustration;

2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the lin 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1,but showing a modified form of latch structure.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,

it will be seen that I have illustrated a fragment a chain, indicated generally by the reference numeral iii. The links of said chainare hinged together by pintles I i and certain of said pintles are extended, as illustrated in Fig. 2; beyond the lateral limits of the chain. 1

Two blocks i2 and I 3 are secured to opposite sides of the chain, and it will be understood that pairs of such blocks are secured to the chain at suitably spaced points in its length. Preferably, the block it will be formed with an overhanging portion [4 adapted 'tobe' associated with a trackway for guiding the conveyor.

The block i2 is formed, in its edge adjacent the chain, with a pair of parallel sockets 15 adapted to receive the projecting ends of two adjacent pintles ii. The said block is further formed with a bore 16 intersecting each of said sockets I5; and the pintl end is formed with a transverse bore I! adapted to register with the socket it, so that a cotter pin I8 may be passed through said bore ll, being received in the bore l'fi, whereby the block [2 is fixedly secured to the chain [0.

Similarly, the block 53 is formed with a pair of sockets l9 intersected by bores 20, said sockets is receiving the projecting ends of the pintles H, which are formed with transverse bores 25 registering with the bores 20 to receive cotter pins 22.

The block I2 is further formed with an opening 23 substantially parallel with the bores l6; and the block i3 is formed with a similar opening 24 therethrough. A retainer socket 225 intersects the opening 23 in the block l2, and a similar socket 28 intersects the opening 24 in the block I3. One end of each socket 25 and 26 is reduced as at 21 and 28.

Reciprocably mounted in the socket 215 is a retainer plunger 29 having a reduced stem 3t projecting outside the block [2 and carrying at its end a removable abutment 3!, between which and the block i2 is confined a coiled spring 32 sleeved on said stern. Obviously, this arrange ment resiliently retains the main body portion of the plunger 29 seated in the socket 25, and

, thestem portion 343 withdrawn from said socket.

Similarly, a plunger 33 having a reduced stem 34 is received in the socket 26 and projects therefrom, a removable abutment 35 being mounted upon the projecting nd of said stem and con fining a coiled spring 36 sleeved on said stem 34.

A supporting element, which may take the form of a slat 31, carries a pair of parallel posts 38 and 4!] spaced to register with the openings 23 and 24. In its outerside. the post 38 is formed with a transverse notch 39; and the post 40 is formed with a similar notch 4|. As the said posts are received in the openings 23 and 24, their notches 39 and H register, respectively, with the sockets 25 and 26. The plungers 29 and 33 are so proportioned and designed that, when they are depressed, against the tendencies of the springs 32 and 36, to the position of plunger 33 illustrated, the reduced stems 3t and 34 register with the openings 23 and 24, so that the plungers clear the posts 38 and 49 to permit entry of said posts in the openings 23 and 24, or removal thereof from said openings. When the posts 38 and dtchave been properly seated in the openings 23 and 24, the springs 32 and 35 return the plungers to the position of the plunger 29 illustrated, whereby body portions of said plungers enter the notches 39 and ii to retain said posts firmly against removal from their openings.

Thus, the slat 31 is solidly held in .position upon the chain H]; but is readily removable by the mere depression of the plungers 29 and 53.

In Fig. 3, I have shown a modified form of latch. As in the above described embodiment,

the slat 3's carries one or more posts, only one of which, 411, is illustrated, said posts being notched, as at M. A block 55, having an opening i li :e the opening 2%, and a retainer socket 52, similar to the socket 26, is secured to the chain IE3. Mounted for oscillation in said socket 52 is a retainer 53 having a reduced portion 54 projecting from the socket. Said portion 54 is straddled by the furcations of an arched spring leaf 55 which bears against the adjacent surface of the block 58 and resiliently resists axial movement of the retainer 53 in one direction.

Said retainer 53 is formed to provide a portion receivable in the post notch ii, and is further formed with a transverse notch 55 which, in one position of the retainer, registers with said post, When said notch 55 registers with the post it, the post it is removable from the block 55; but when the retainer is in its illustrated position, it is engaged in the post notch 4! to hold said post firmly against removal.

In that surface of the block opposite the sur face engaged by the spring 55 there is formed a seat 5'6; and the retainer 53 is provided with a radially projecting arm 58 carrying a button 55 engageable in said seat 5?. The spring 55 resists such movement of the retainer as will permit re moval of the button 59 from the seat When said button is received in the seat 5?, the body portion of the retainer is engaged in the post notch M; and thereby accidental oscillation of the retainer 53 is prevented.

I claim as my invention:

1. For use with a conveyor including a continuous flexible element, a supporting member and means for removably attaching said member to said element comprising a post fixed to said member and formed with a notch therein, a block fixed to said element and formed with an opening therein adapted to receive said post, said block further being formed with a socket intersecting said opening, and a retainer shiftably received in said socket, said retainer having a portion entering said notch in said post to retain said block against separation from said post, at times, and having a cut-away portion registrable with said post, at other times, to permit separation of said block from said post.

2. For use with a conveyor including a continuous flexible element, a supporting member and means for removably attaching said member to said element comprising a post fixed to said member and formed with a notch therein, a block fixed to said element and formed with an opening therein adapted to receive said post, said block further being formed with a socket intersecting said opening, and a retainer reciprocably received in said socket, said retainer having a portion engageable in said notch in said .post to retain said block against separation from said post, and further having a portion of reduced crosssection longitudinally spaced from said firstnamed portion, said last-named portion clearing said post, said retainer being shiftable axially beblock fixed to said element and formed with an opening therein adapted to receive said post, said block further being formed with a socket intersecting said opening, and a retainer oscillably rer ceived in said socket, said retainer being formed with a notch registrable with said post notch, and being oscillable between a position in which said notches are in registry and a position in which a portion of said retainer engages in said post notch.

4. For use with a conveyor including a continuous flexible element, a supporting member and means for removably attaching said member to said element comprising a post fixed to said member and formed with a notch therein, a block fixed to said element and formed with an opening therein adapted to receive said post, said block further being formed with a socket intersecting said opening, a retainer oscillably and reciprocably mounted in said socket and formed with a notch registrable with said post notch, means resiliently resisting reciprocation of said retainer, said retainer being oscillable between position in which said notches are in registry and a position in which a portion of said retainer engages in said post notch, a seat formed on said block and a stop projecting in a direction paralleling the axis of oscillation of said retainer, on said retainer engaging in said seat when said retainer is in its last-named position and removable from said seat only upon reciprocatory movement of said retainer against the tendency of said resisting means.

5. The combination with a chain having hinge pintles, of a pair of blocks arranged on opposite sides of said chain, each block having a pair of sockets receiving the projecting ends of a pair of adjacent pintles, each block further being formed with bores perpendicularly intersecting its said sockets and said pintle ends being formed with transverse bores registrable with said block bores, pins traversing said bores to secure said blocks to said chain, an opening in each of said blocks parallel with said bores, a retainer socket intersecting said opening, a retainer shiftably mount-- ed in each retainer socket, a slat, and two spaced parallel posts carried by said slat and receivable in said block openings, respectively, each post being formed with a notch receiving, at times, a portion of the retainer mounted in its associated block.

6. Latch means comprising a post formed with a transverse notch, a block formed with an opening for receiving said post, said block further being formed with a socket intersecting said opening, and a retainer received in said socket and having a portion enterable in said post notch and a cut-away portion clearing said post, said retainer being axially and oscillably shiftable in its socket between a position in which its firstnamed portion is engaged in said post notch and a position in which its cut-away portion registers with said post, resi ient means resisting axial movement of said retainer in one direction, and catch means inhibiting oscillatory movement of 5 6 said retainer from said first-named position UNITED STATES PATENTS until after said retainer has been axially shifted Number Name Date against the resistance of said resilient means. 1,403,993 Eberhardt Mar 7, 1922 CLARENCE BENINGER- 5 1,475,257 Bottone Nov. 27, 1923 REFERENCES CITED 1,566,516 Baker et a1 Dec. 22, 1925 The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

